Knockdown warehouse pallet

ABSTRACT

A knockdown warehousing pallet having a plurality of tubular base members of progressive cross-sectional dimensions suitable for nesting one within the other in the knockdown condition and a plurality of load supporting tubular members which extend in the assembled pallet condition normally across and which are partially received within the base members. The load supporting members and base members may be attached to each other by dowel pins, and all the parts may be inserted in the largest tubular member, which may have end caps, for storage or easy transport.

[1 1 3,654,877 [4 1 Apr. 11, 1972 United States Patent Barrett 108/56 ...................108/56 1/1968 Budd.......................................108/58 mm Mn 0 mm e 0t Hm 46 66 99 mm 692 539 ,3 161 356 333 m a Lv n m PM i M 0 t H t m um me e c N n W n W a Mr C m m m Km Mn UN [73] Assignee: The American Novawood Corporation,

Lynchburg, Va.

May 16,1969

[2]] Appl.No.: 825,310

Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch [22] Filed:

Att0rneyBums, Doane, Swecker & Mathis [5 7] ABSTRACT A knockdown warehousing pallet having a plurality of tubular base members of progressive cross-sectional dimensions suita- ...............l08/56 .......,....B65d 19/18 I 108/51-58; 206/60 ble for nesting one within the other in the knockdown condition and a plurality of load supporting tubular members which extend in the assembled pallet condition normally across and References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS which are partially received within the base members. The load supporting members and base members may be attached 2,315,608 Fergusson 3,329,103 7/1967 Cohen 2,492,626 12/1949 Fletcher... 2,643,080 6/1953 Vogel 2,930,481 3/ 1960 Bebie PATENTEDAFR l 1 I972 SHEET 1 0F 5 INVENTOR LAWRENCE G. BARRETT ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 5 n 0 T G N E a V N m E R w A L 4 |.\I 4 21K 3 0 j 4( 4 BARRETT Mm ATT )RN KY5 BY ums, bow, amma" lime/Mm V5 PATENTEDAPR 11 m2 3. 654,877

SHEET 3 BF 5 INVENTOR LAWRENCE G. BARRETT BY Zulu, boa/4, Ema Act, Mack 3 MAI/v ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET UF 5 mvmwun LAWRENCE G. BARRETT ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR H I972 3,654, 877

SHEET S [)F 5 FIG. 2/

FIG. 26

INVENTOR LAWRENCE Gv BARRETT BY r w, boa/w mubck,

KNOCKDOWN WAREHOUSE PALLET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a knockdown pallet having a plurality of tubular base members suitable for engagement with the floor of a warehouse. A plurality of load support members extend across and rest upon the base members and are designed to carry or support a plurality of merchandise boxes, barrels, or other containers above the surface of the warehouse floor.

In the past, pallets have been generally constructed from inexpensive wood such as mixed oak used in the green or airdried condition. In many cases, pallets of this nature have been considered disposable and receive only one use. Because of the fact that they are considered disposable and very low grade lumber is often selected, in many cases pallet breakage occurs, even during the first use. Upgraded pallets have been produced for use in-house or in-plant shipments particularly where re-use over an extended period of time is contemplated. The upgraded pallets may be more sturdily constructed, some being made of steel and other relatively permanent materials.

A disadvantage of the prior pallets, as discussed above, is their bulk volume and excessive weight (up to 100 pounds in some instances). Also, substantial space must be allocated in a warehouse for the storage of most conventional pallets. Further, the cost of transportation both during initial shipment and any possible return, may be quite high due to the inefficient utilization of space in stacking.

To alleviate some of the foregoing disadvantages, it has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,839, issued to Peterson et al. to provide a pallet for transportation and storage in a knockdown or disassembled condition which may be manually set up at a desired warehousing location. However, such prior knockdown pallets have not been completely satisfactory.

In this regard, prior knockdown pallets have used a large number of independent parts which are easily lost and dictate a large expenditure of time to assemble and disassemble the pallet. Further, priorly known knockdown pallets occupy a relatively large storage volume even in the knockdown posture.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a major object to provide novel, knockdown pallet which is lightweight and capable of selfstoring in the knockdown condition within a single tubular posture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel knockdown pallet having a minimum number of separate parts and which can be rapidly assembled and disassembled with a minimum amount of time and effort consumed in the operatron.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a novel knockdown pallet which, when in the knockdown condition, may have all the parts encased within a single cylindrical outer shell accommodating end caps at its extremities, wherein the outer shell serves as one or more of the base members of the pallet.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel warehousing pallet having upper load supporting cross members supported parallel to the floor by the lower tubular base members, each of which has a different diameter, whereby all the base members may be nested and all of the upper cross members may be contained within the base members.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel warehousing pallet having upper load supporting cross members, base members and base stabilizing members for heavy duty utilization.

THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims, and from the detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a novel knockdown pallet forming one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 2, taken along section line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partially sectioned view of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 2, taken along section line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partially sectioned view of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 2, taken along section line 5-5, which has been modified to the extent of providing side forklift passages.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of the pallet shown in FIG. 1 in that the pallet is provided with only two base members.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of a novel knockdown pallet forming another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation, partially sectioned view of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 7 taken along section line FIG. 10 is a side elevation, partially sectioned view of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 7, taken along section line 10l0.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation, partially sectioned knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 7, taken along section line 11-11, which has been modified to the extent of providing side forklift passages.

FIG. 12 is a pictorial view of a novel knockdown pallet forming another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is an end view of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an end view of a modified form of the pallet shown in FIG. 12 in that the pallet is provided with only two base members.

FIG. 15 is a pictorial view of a novel knockdown pallet forming another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 is an end elevation, partially sectioned view of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 15, taken along section line 16--l6.

FIG. 17 is an end elevation of a portion of a modified form of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 15, wherein the dimensional relationship of a base member is shown with respect to a corresponding cross member.

FIG. 18 is a pictorial view of a novel knockdown pallet forming another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 is an end elevation of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a broken away view of one junction of a cross and base member of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a side elevation, partially sectioned view of the knockdown pallet shown in FIG. 18, taken along section line 21-21, which has been modified to the extent of providing forklift passages.

FIG. 22 is a pictorial view of a novel knockdown pallet such as shown in FIGS. 1 or 7 in the stored knockdown condition.

FIG. 23 is an end elevation of the stored knockdown pallet as shown in FIG. 22, taken along section line 23-23.

FIG. 24 is an end elevation taken in cross section of a stored knockdown pallet such as shown in FIGS. 12 or 15.

FIG. 25 is an end elevational view taken in cross section of a stored knockdown pallet such as shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view of an end cap suitable for use with the stored knockdown pallet, as shown in FIG. 24.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a warehousing or shipping pallet 30 in accord with one form of the invention, having a plurality of tubular load supporting cross members 32 extending normally to the axis of, and resting upon, a plurality of base members which are here illustrated as being hollow, thin-walled, cylindrical tubes 34, 35 and 36.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the diameters of the base tubes are not equal, but rather are progressive, such that the inside diameter D-l of tube 34 is greater than the outside diameter D-2 of tube 35, and the inside diameter D-2 of tube 35 in turn is greater than the outside diameter D-3 of tube 36. As will be appreciated, therefore, if the bottom portions of the varying diameter tubes rest on a plane such as the floor of a warehouse or the bed of a truck, the upper portions of the tubes will ascent or descend in a steplike fashion. The loadsupporting cross members 32, however, must extend with an upper surface approximately parallel with the floor to prevent shifting or rolling of the commodities carried by the pallet. To insure an upper horizontal supporting surface, a plurality of openings or recesses of decreasing depth 39, 40 and 41 are fashioned into the base members 34, 35, and 36, respectively.

The openings 39 in the base member 34 constitute a series of parallel slots or holes that have been formed near the upper surface thereof. The openings or slots 40 in the member 35 are similar to the slots in base member 34; however, slots 40 have been fashioned to create less of a recess in the upper surface thereof. In like manner, the recesses 41 in base member 36 are shallower than recesses 40 in base member 35. It will be appreciated that the exact size and shape of the openings in each base member is dictated by the consideration that the bottom of the opening which locates the cross members 32 in each base member 34, 35 and 36 should be equidistant from the floor plane on which the base members rest. Therefore, as previously discussed, the cross members 32 will have their upper surfaces lying in a common plane that is parallel to the floor surface.

The openings 39, 40 and 41 in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 are all generally cylindrical voids to thus accommodate in intimate reception cross members 32 which have a cylindrical outer surface.

To maintain the cross members 32 in position and to prevent inadvertent detachment from the base members, cross members 32 may be provided with three normally extending openings (note FIGS. 3, 4 and 5), through which dowel pins or tie-rods 44 may extend. The dowel pins 44 may be slidingly received within and along a line parallel to the axis of respective base tubes 34, 35 and 36. Dowel pins 44 thus extend perpendicularly through the plurality of load support cross members 32. As is evident from FIG. 3, in order to insure contiguous relationship between the load supporting bars and base members, the dowel pin receiving openings in the cross members must be located so that, in each case, the dowel pins 44 slide along the upper interior surface of the base members 34, 35 and 36.

The pallet may be readily assembled or disassembled by the insertion or removal of a single dowel pin or tie-rod 44 positionable within each of the base tube members 34, 35 and 36 and through the plurality of the cross members 32, as previously discussed. In a knockdown posture, to be more fully discussed hereinafter, the pallet may be compactly stored as best seen in FIG. 23 (on sheet five) within the largest of the base tube members.

The base members 34, 35 and 36 and cross members 32 of the shipping pallet may be made up from tubular parts, preferably of thin-walled material, being light in weight yet possessing great strength and load-bearing characteristics. A variety of compositions may be used for this purpose such as light metals and metal alloys, plastics and reinforced plastics such as molded fiberglass, rolls of treated wood or paper and reinforced treated paper, or the like.

One composition which has been found particularly suitable is a roll of paper or a roll of paper reinforced with a screen of a metallic or fiberglass material, impregnated with a liquid monomer and thereafter polymerized to produce a very hard and strong paper-plastic composite. The step of polymerization may be accomplished as by subjecting the monomer impregnated roll or tube to intense irradiation or heat, as disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 678,584, filed Oct. 27, 1967.

When a flat continuous surface is required on the top of the pallet such as, for example, when the pallet is designated to support containers or commodities having dimensions smaller than the spacing of the load-supporting cross members, a rigid sheet of plastic impregnated paper or the like (not shown) may be laid on the load-support members and attached thereto by suitable retaining means.

The pallet 30, as shown in FIG. 1, is so dimensioned as to enable a conventional forklift truck (not shown) to engage its lifting tongs from either of two directions along the avenues indicated by arrows E, and B In some instances, however, it is desirable to provide four-way entry to the pallet. In this regard, a pair of recesses 46, as best seen in FIG. 5, may be fashioned through the base tubes normally to the base tube axes. The base tubes, however, are still provided with adequate floor engaging legs 48 which are suitable to maintain the strength requirements of the base tubes.

While the pallet has been described as having three legs, it should be recognized that in those instances where it is anticipated that comparatively light materials are to be stored and transported, a pallet structure having two legs may be adequate. In this regard, as best seen in FIG. 6, a modified pallet is disclosed having a first base tube 50 which is diametrically larger than a second base tube 52 which will horizontally support a plurality of cross members 32 and nest in a knockdown condition in the manner previously described.

Where it is anticipated that extremely heavy loads will be supported by the shipping pallet, a modification of the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-6 may be desirable. In this regard, as best seen in FIGS. 7-11, a pallet 55, designed for heavy duty, is disclosed. As previously discussed, a plurality of load supporting tubes 32 are positioned for intimate contact and support upon a plurality of base tubes 34, 35 and 36 which have decreasing diametrical dimensions. The load support members 32 engage holes or grooves 39, 40 and 41 in the base tubes and are held in position by a plurality of dowel pins or tie-rods 44, as best seen in FIGS. 8, 9, l0 and 11.

The heavy duty pallet 55, therefore, is identical in many respects with the pallet 30 disclosed in FIGS. l-6. However, the heavy duty pallet additionally may be provided with a plurality of stabilizing bars 57 which extend parallel to the load supporting cross tubes and normally through recesses formed in the bottom portions of the base tubes 34, 35 and 36. As best seen, however, in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the stabilizing bars extend approximately an equal distance into receiving holes or slots 59 in each of the base tubes. The stabilizing bars 57 are fixedly attached in intimate engagement with the base tubes by tierods or dowel pins 61 which extend longitudinally with the base members and normally through the stabilizing bars.

As previously discussed in connection with FIG. 5, where it is desirable to provide a pallet suitable for four-way lift entry, a pair of recesses 46 may be laterally provided through the base tubes, as best seen in FIG. 11. In such an embodiment, only four of the lower stabilizing bars 57 have been deleted, thus leaving at least one stabilizing member 57 on each side of the recesses 46 for strength and rigidity. The bars 57 may be fastened to the base members by a plurality of short ties 58 to provide and maintain the forklift entry free from obstructions.

A further embodiment of the invention is disclosed in FIGS. 12 and 13 wherein a warehousing pallet 62 is shown having a plurality of cross bars 32 extending normally to and resting upon a plurality of cylindrical segmented base members 63.

The base members 63 are peripheral or circumferential seg ments of a longitudinally sectioned tubular member. Each of the base members 63, as shown in FIG. 13, has substantially similar dimensions and in cross section peripherally comprises about one-third of a generally circular shell. The edges 65 of the base members 63 are positioned for engagement with the floor of a warehouse or bed of a truck, and the upper arcuate portions or crowns 67, therefore, are above the floor surface. The crowns are provided with a plurality of normally extending holes or recesses 69 therethrough. The recesses are fashioned for the cooperative reception of the normally extending load support members 32.

A dowel pin 44 may be positioned within and continguous to the inner crown portion 67 of the base means 63 and through he normally extending cross members 32 for the fixed attachment of the cross members 32 to the base members 63.

It will be appreciated that while the pallet 62 of FIGS. 12 and 13 has been shown comprising three base members 63, that in some instances where light loads are anticipated, a pair of generally semicylindrical base members 71, as illustrated in FIG. 14, may be used.

Another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, comprises a warehousing pallet 73 having a plurality of tubular load-supporting cross members 32 extending normally to and cooperatively engaging a plurality of base members 75. The base members 75 are composed of longitudinally extending sections of a generally circular tubular member. Each base member in cross section comprises about one-third of the peripheral or circumferential portion of a circular tubular member.

In the assembled pallet condition, the crown portions 77 of the base members 75 are positioned for engagement with the bed of a truck or warehousing floor. The cross members 32 are provided with a plurality of slots 81 formed to intimately receive the upturned edges 79 in each base member.

The load supporting cross members 32 may be secured to the base members 75 by fashioning a plurality of holes through the edges 79 of the base members and inserting dowel pins 44 within the cross members and through the holes in the base members. Another means of securing the base members and load supporting cross members together is disclosed in FIG. 17, wherein the inside base cordial distance C is approximately equal to the outside slot distance S. Therefore, the base member 75 must be compressed to engage the slots 81 in the cross members 32, and thus the members are held in engagement by the resultant compressive force.

A still further embodiment of the pallet of this invention may comprise a shipping or warehousing pallet 83, as illustrated in FIGS. 18-20, wherein tubular cross members 84 having a rectangular or square cross section extend normally to and cooperatively rest upon base tubes 86, 87 and 88 which also have rectangular or square cross sections.

As best tubes in FIG. 19, the cross-sectional dimensions of the base tubes are not equal but rather are progressive such that the width of the one side L1 of base tube 86 is greater than the width L2 of tube 87, which in turn is greater than the width L3 of tube 88. As can be seen, therefore, if the bottom portions of the varying diameter tubes rest on a plane such as the floor of the warehouse or the bed of a truck, the upper portions thereof will necessarily ascend or descend in step fashion as illustrated in FIG. 19.

The square base tubes 86-88, as best shown in FIG. 20, may be provided with a plurality of normally extending slots 90 for the cooperative reception of the side portions 92 of the normally extending load support members 84. As also is evident from FIG. 20, the load support members 84 are further fashioned with U-shaped cutouts 94. When the load support members 84 are engaged with a base tube, the slots 90 receive the side portions 92 of cross members 84 and the U-shaped cutouts 94 slide over walls 98. Therefore, the bottom bearing edges 96 and side portions 92 of the cross members will cooperate with the side walls 98 and slots 90 to restrain movement of the cross members 84 along either the axis of the dross member or the axis of the associated base members 86-88.

To insure the retention of the cross members 84 within the cooperating base members 86-88, a plurality of tie-rods or dowel pins 44 may be positioned within and contiguous withthe upper side of the base members 86-88 and slidably received, as best seen in FIG. 19, through each of the cross members 84.

When it is desirable to construct a pallet capable of receiving the fork tongs of a lift truck in any one of its sides, a pair of recesses 46 may be laterally provided through the base tubes, as best seen in FIG. 21.

While the foregoing embodiment is described in terms of cross-sectional square members, it will be appreciated that all planar sided configurations are contemplated by this embodiment of the invention.

The foregoing embodiments of the warehousing or shipping pallet have been described in their operative pallet condition. A significant aspect of the invention, however, resides in the convertibility of the previously described pallets into a compact knockdown unit for the transportation and storage of the pallet members. As best illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, the warehousing pallet 30 and 55, when disassembled, permit the compact storage of all of the pallet elements within the largest of the base members. As discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-4, the base tubes 34, 35 and 36 are cross-sectionally dimensioned to nest within each other, thus providing a hollow void for the reception of the cross members 32 and also the tie-rods or dowel pins 44. To avoid loss of the pallet elements during shipping and storage, a pair of end caps may then be positioned over each end of the base member, as best seen in FIG. 22. The end caps may be held in position by an interference fit, screw threads, pin connections, or the like.

The warehousing pallets 62 and 73, as described in connection with FIGS. 12 and 15, when disassembled, may be com pactly stored as illustrated in FIG. 24. The peripherally segmented base members 63 or 75 circumferentially cooperate to form a single, longitudinally extending cylindrical tube for the reception of a plurality of the cross members 32, and (when used) dowel pins or tie-rods 44. A pair of end caps 101, each have'a circular recess 102 which may engage the inner and outer surfaces of the base members 63 or 75 and hold them in the configuration of a cylindrical tube. The end caps 101, which are positioned over each end of the single tubular member to maintain the structure during shipping and storage, may be secured to the tube in any suitable manner, such as by an interference fit as here illustrated.

The warehousing pallet 83, as described in connection with FIG. 18, also breaks down into a compact structure for transportation and storage, as illustrated in FIG. 25. The base tubes 86, 87 and 88 are dimensioned to telescopically cooperate, as previously discussed, and receive in their interior the normally extending cross members 84 and the dowel pins or tie-rods which make up the pallet. A pair of suitable end caps may be placed on each end of the base tube to maintain the integrity of the compact knockdown pallet unit during shipping and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE ADVANTAGES From the foregoing, it is evident that the present invention provides a novel knockdown pallet which may be easily transported and stored for reuse a number of times. The pallet may weigh as little as a fourth of that of a conventional wooden pallet and may occupy as little as one-tenth the volume when in the knockdown condition.

Utilized as intended, the pallet of the present invention may provide a considerable cost savings in pallet transportation and storage management even over previously known knockdown pallets.

The pallet, being light in weight and compact, is therefore easily hand carried. It is composed of a plurality of members, many of which are interchangeable, which may be manually assembled and disassembled. Therefore, defective or worn elements may be replaced as needed and the entire pallet need not be discarded merely because one part is damaged.

The knockdown pallet comprises a minimum of separate elements therefore maximizing the ease and rapidity with which the pallet may be assembled and disassembled. Also, the knockdown pallet of the invention may be self-contained within a single tubular member having end caps when in the knockdown posture. Therefore the integrity of the separate pallet elements may be maintained during transportation and storage.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A knockdown pallet for supporting, when assembled, a load thereupon, comprising:

a plurality of tubular load supporting cross members;

a first longitudinally extending tubular base means for supporting a first end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition;

a second longitudinally extending tubular base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of said first tubular base means, for supporting a second end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first tubular base means and said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition, whereby said pallet is self-enhousing within said second base means; plurality of tubular base stabilizing members extending normally to the axis of said first and second base means, said base means being provided with indentations in the lower portion thereof for the cooperative reception of said stabilizing members; and

a third longitudinally extending base means, having crosssectional dimensions greater than said first base means but less than said second base means, for supporting a central portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first base means and said plurality of cross members while being nested within said second base means in the pallet knockdown condition;

said cross members and said stabilizing members being arranged parallel to each other and extending normally to the axis of said first, second and third base means;

said indentations in the lower surfaces of said base means being equal in all three base means, and approximately the same as the diameter of said stabilizing members;

said base means having further indentations in the upper surfaces thereof for the reception of a cooperating portion of said cross members, the depth of the indentations in said third base means being greater than the depth of the indentations in said first base means but less than the depth of the indentations in said second base means, whereby said cross members while resting on a plurality of tubular base means of progressively smaller diameters will be disposed parallel to the stabilizing members; and a plurality of longitudinally extending dowel pins extending within said base means and through said plurality of cross members and said stabilizing members, whereby said cross members and said stabilizing members are attached to said base means in the pallet assembled condition, and also whereby said cross members and said stabilizing members may be detached from said base means and lon' gitudinally aligned with said dowel pins for compact storage within said nested base means in the pallet knockdown condition.

2. A knockdown pallet as defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

a pair of end caps, said end caps being dimensionally sized to fit over the ends of said second base means to maintain, in the pallet knockdown condition, said first and third base means, said cross members and said tie-rods within said second base means.

3. A knockdown pallet as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said tubular base means are circular in cross section.

4. A knockdown pallet for supporting, when assembled, a

load thereupon, comprising:

a plurality of tubular load supporting cross members;

a first longitudinally extending tubular base means for supporting a first end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said plurality of cross members in a pallet knockdown condition;

a second longitudinally extending tubular base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of said first tubular base means, for supporting a second end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first tubular base means and said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition, whereby said pallet is self-enhousing within said second base means; I

a third longitudinally extending base means, having crosssectional dimensions greater than said first base means but less than said second base means, for supporting a central portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first base means and said plurality of cross members while being nested within said second base means in the pallet knockdown condition;

said cross members being arranged parallel to each other and extending normally to the axis of said first, second, and third base means;

said base means each having indentations in the upper surfaces thereof for the reception of a cooperating portion of said support members. The depth of the indentations in said third base means being greater than the depth of the indentations in said first base means and less than the depth of the indentations in said second base means whereby said cross members extend parallel to the pallet supporting surface while resting on said plurality of base means each having different heights; and

a plurality of longitudinally extending tie-rods extending within said tubular base means and through said plurality of cross members whereby said cross members are attached to said base means in the pallet assembled condition and also whereby said cross members can be detached from said base means and longitudinally aligned with said tie-rods for storage of said cross members and said tie-rods completely within said nested base means.

5. A knockdown pallet as defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

aligned lateral cutouts in the base means for the side reception of the fork bars of a forklift truck, whereby the truck may engage the pallet at either end or either side.

6. A knockdown pallet as defined in claim 5 wherein said lateral cutouts comprise:

load thereupon, comprising:

a plurality of tubular load supporting cross members;

a first longitudinally extending tubular base means for supporting a first end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition; second longitudinally extending tubular base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of said first tubular base means, for supporting a second end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first tubular base means and said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition, whereby said pallet is self-enhousing within said second base means;

plurality of tubular base stabilizing members extending normally to the axis of said first and second base means, said base means being provided with indentations in the lower portions thereof for the cooperative reception of said stabilizing members; and

a third longitudinally extending tubular base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than said first base means but less than said second base means, for supporting a central portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first base means and said plurality of cross members while being nested within said second base means in the pallet knockdown condition,

said cross members and said stabilizing members being parallel to each other and extending normally to the axis of said first, second and third base means,

said indentations in the lower surfaces of said base means being equal in all three base means, and approximately the same as the diameter of said stabilizing members,

said base means having further indentation in the upper sur- 

1. A knockdown pallet for supporting, when assembled, a load thereupon, comprising: a plurality of tubular load supporting cross members; a first longitudinally extending tubular base means for supporting a first end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition; a second longitudinally extending tubular base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of said first tubular base means, for supporting a second end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first tubular base means and said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition, whereby said pallet is selfenhousing within said second base means; a plurality of tubular base stabilizing members extending normally to the axis of said first and second base means, said base means being provided with indentations in the lower portion thereof for the cooperative reception of said stabilizing members; and a third longitudinally extending base means, having crosssectional dimensions greater than said first base means but less than said second base means, for supporting a central portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first base means and said plurality of cross members while being nested within said second base means in the pallet knockdown condition; said cross members and said stabilizing members being arranged parallel to each other and extending normally to the axis of said first, second and third base means; said indentations in the lower surfaces of said base means being equal in all three base means, and approximately the same as the diameter of said stabilizing members; said base means having further indentations in the upper surfaces thereof for the reception oF a cooperating portion of said cross members, the depth of the indentations in said third base means being greater than the depth of the indentations in said first base means but less than the depth of the indentations in said second base means, whereby said cross members while resting on a plurality of tubular base means of progressively smaller diameters will be disposed parallel to the stabilizing members; and a plurality of longitudinally extending dowel pins extending within said base means and through said plurality of cross members and said stabilizing members, whereby said cross members and said stabilizing members are attached to said base means in the pallet assembled condition, and also whereby said cross members and said stabilizing members may be detached from said base means and longitudinally aligned with said dowel pins for compact storage within said nested base means in the pallet knockdown condition.
 2. A knockdown pallet as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a pair of end caps, said end caps being dimensionally sized to fit over the ends of said second base means to maintain, in the pallet knockdown condition, said first and third base means, said cross members and said tie-rods within said second base means.
 3. A knockdown pallet as defined in claim 2 wherein: said tubular base means are circular in cross section.
 4. A knockdown pallet for supporting, when assembled, a load thereupon, comprising: a plurality of tubular load supporting cross members; a first longitudinally extending tubular base means for supporting a first end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said plurality of cross members in a pallet knockdown condition; a second longitudinally extending tubular base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of said first tubular base means, for supporting a second end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first tubular base means and said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition, whereby said pallet is self-enhousing within said second base means; a third longitudinally extending base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than said first base means but less than said second base means, for supporting a central portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first base means and said plurality of cross members while being nested within said second base means in the pallet knockdown condition; said cross members being arranged parallel to each other and extending normally to the axis of said first, second, and third base means; said base means each having indentations in the upper surfaces thereof for the reception of a cooperating portion of said support members. The depth of the indentations in said third base means being greater than the depth of the indentations in said first base means and less than the depth of the indentations in said second base means whereby said cross members extend parallel to the pallet supporting surface while resting on said plurality of base means each having different heights; and a plurality of longitudinally extending tie-rods extending within said tubular base means and through said plurality of cross members whereby said cross members are attached to said base means in the pallet assembled condition and also whereby said cross members can be detached from said base means and longitudinally aligned with said tie-rods for storage of said cross members and said tie-rods completely within said nested base means.
 5. A knockdown pallet as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: aligned lateral cutouts in the base means for the side reception of the fork bars of a forklift truck, whereby the truck may engage the pallet at either end or either side.
 6. A knockdown pallet as defined in claim 5 wherein said lateral cutouts comprise: a first generally U-shaped archway fashioned normally through each of said base means near one end thereof; and a second generally U-shaped archway fashioned normally through each of said base members near the other end thereof, thus forming a pair of archways laterally extending through the pallet base means and thus leaving floor engaging legs on each of the base means and the center thereof, wherein each of said floor engaging legs has at least one stabilizing member positioned therethrough.
 7. A knockdown pallet for supporting, when assembled, a load thereupon, comprising: a plurality of tubular load supporting cross members; a first longitudinally extending tubular base means for supporting a first end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition; second longitudinally extending tubular base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of said first tubular base means, for supporting a second end portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first tubular base means and said plurality of cross members in the pallet knockdown condition, whereby said pallet is self-enhousing within said second base means; a plurality of tubular base stabilizing members extending normally to the axis of said first and second base means, said base means being provided with indentations in the lower portions thereof for the cooperative reception of said stabilizing members; and a third longitudinally extending tubular base means, having cross-sectional dimensions greater than said first base means but less than said second base means, for supporting a central portion of each of said plurality of cross members in an assembled pallet condition and for enhousing said first base means and said plurality of cross members while being nested within said second base means in the pallet knockdown condition, said cross members and said stabilizing members being parallel to each other and extending normally to the axis of said first, second and third base means, said indentations in the lower surfaces of said base means being equal in all three base means, and approximately the same as the diameter of said stabilizing members, said base means having further indentation in the upper surfaces thereof for the reception of a cooperating portion of said cross members, the depth of the indentations in said third base means being greater than the depth of the indentations in said first base means but less than the depth of the indentations in said second base means, whereby said cross members while resting on a plurality of tubular base means of progressively smaller diameters will be disposed parallel to the stabilizing members. 